Merrill Education and ETS (Educational Testing Service) are proud to bring you Conceptualizing A New Path, by Peter J. Holly (ETS, 2003). The first workbook in the PATHWISE Data-Driven School Improvement Series, Conceptulizing A New Path presents the fundamental arguement that data-based decision making constitutes a valid, alternative method of going about educational change. Through the exercises in this workbook participants acquire the skills and attitudes to become not only better change makers but also better colleagues and more effective team players.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Introduction Purpose of Workbook One Group Process Guide Structuring Learning Team Meetings Chapter One: The Problem of Change             The Purpose of Chapter One             The Change Wars                         Task 1: Alternatives to Change Wars                         Task 2: Personal Experiences with Change Wars                         Task 3: District Initiatives                         Task 4: Categorizing Reactions to Change                         Task 5: Setting Change to Music                         Task 6: Reflecting on Chapter One Chapter Two: The Seven Elements of School Improvement             The Purpose of Chapter Two             Element One: Getting Focused                         Task 1: Applying Focusing Skills                         Task 2: Recognizing the Developmental Stages of Change                         Task 3: Planning and Sequencing Changes Over Time                         Task 4: Clustering Changes                         Task 5: How to Say “No”             Element Two: Creating a Shared Agenda                         Task 1: Instant Gardening                         Task 2: Relating the Six Factors for a Healthy Life to Professional Situations                         Task 3: Creating a Central List of Common Ground Issues                         Task 4: Listening to Others’ Views and Opinions                         Task 5: Rating Your School’s Current Approach to Change             Element Three: Follow-Through–Sustaining Changes over Time                         Task 1: Changing Trains–A Metaphor                         Task 2: Sustaining Changes Over Time                         Task 3: Reflecting on Element Three             Element Four: Grounding Our Change Efforts in Data                         Task 1: Action Planning                         Task 2: Understanding the Interests of Stakeholder Groups                         Task 3: Tracking Student Progress             Element Five: Data Show Our Progress                         Task 1: Understanding the Role of Data in School Improvement Efforts                         Task 2: Creating Your Local Version of Essential Learnings                         Task 3: Constructing A needs Assessment Tool                         Task 4: Identifying Local Keepers of the Vision                         Task 5: Completing a Gap Analysis                         Task 6: Reflecting on De-Centering             Element Six: Continuous Improvements in the Self-Renewing School                         Task 1: Applying the Characteristics of a Learning School                         Task 2: Identifying the Local External Requirements and Internal Needs                         Task 3: Attending to Both External Requirements and Internal Needs                         Task 4: Using the Properties of a Self-Renewing School to Complete a Local Assessment                         Task 5: Evaluating the Performance of Your School System                         Task 6: Understanding the Difference Between Site-Based and Shared Decision-Making                         Task 7: Integrating School-Based Initiatives with System Coordination                         Task 8: Constructing a Decision-Making Matrix                         Task 9: Reviewing the Guidelines for Making Good Decisions                         Task 10: Composing a Common Public Agreement                         Task 11: Understanding the Impact of Voting in the Decision-Making Process                         Task 12: Filtering Change             Element Seven: Creating a Data-Driven School Culture                         Task 1: Identifying Strengths and Challenges                         Task 2: Summarizing Survey Findings                         Task 3: Reflecting on Local Efforts in Light of Dubuque Schools’ Efforts                         Task 4: Reflecting on Data Coach Training                         Task 5: Finding Time to Learn From Data                         Task 6: Reflecting on Your School Culture                         Task 7: Identifying an Effective Leadership Style                         Task 8: Rating the Effectiveness of the Site Council                         Task 9: Developing an Action Plan                         Task 10: Sharing New Ideas with Colleagues                         Task 11: Reflecting on New Learning About the Author References Appendix